Hamilton will go head-to-head with James DeGale, the current IBF World super middleweight champion, and Yorkshire and England leg spinning all-rounder Adil Rashid, for the coveted Sportsman of the Year award.

The finalists for Sportswoman of the Year award feature Olympic Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill who won the World Championships earlier this year; Rachel Choong, who made history winning three gold medals at the Para-Badminton World Championships; and World Cup Football semi-finalist and Chelsea’s Double winner Eniola Aluko.

Organised by Sporting Equals, the 2016 LycaMobile BEDSAs will once again celebrate excellence amongst Britain’s outstanding Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, with the awards taking place on Saturday 6th February at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.

Seven of the awards at the event will be voted for by the public, with voting lines opening on 21st December.

Other categories include: young sportsperson of the year; unsung hero of the year; coach of the year; inspirational performance of the year and lifetime achievement, which was won by Olympic Heptathlon Gold medallist and BBC Olympic broadcaster Denise Lewis in 2015.

Commenting on his first ever nomination at the LycaMobile BEDSA, Lewis Hamilton said, “I am proud to be nominated alongside a great group of sportsmen and women and very thankful to Sporting Equals for all the work that they are doing to recognise and reward sporting excellence.”

Arun Kang CEO Sporting Equals and Founder of the BEDSAs said, “It is an honour for Sporting Equals and the BEDSA shortlisting panel to announce Lewis Hamilton as one of our three finalists. He is a true role model for others to aspire to and highlights the attributes an individual needs to succeed in any career path; determination, passion and commitment. ”

Subaskaran Allirajah, Group Chairman LycaMobile commenting on the company’s second year of sponsorship said, “We are proud to support the BEDSAs in their second year – they celebrate the huge sporting achievements of the British ethnic minorities across the UK, giving much deserved recognition to these sporting celebrities and local community initiatives. The awards also encourage more of the next generation to achieve the same and more.”